By: MTN Sports Reporter Austin Caperton
The Blue Raiders returned home to host Marshall on blackout night at Floyd Stadium. The Raiders were coming off of a three game losing streak on the road and hoped to end that streak Saturday night, let’s take a look at the highlights.
MTSU opened the game strong, scoring on a 3 yard touchdown run by backup QB Mike Diliello, and a 13 yard touchdown pass to Jarrin Pierce to build a two score lead early in the game.
"I thought offensively, the first half, we played probably as good as we’ve played all year," Stockstill said.
The Raiders running game, which had struggled throughout the first four games of the season, was particularly strong, rushing for over 200 yards. Chaton Mobley led the way with 132 yards, including a 41 yard breakaway score to put the Raiders up 21-7.
"I seen it open up and I hit it, and there was nobody there, out the gate," said Mobley.
MTSU’s defense, which leads all of college football in fumble recoveries, was electric, forcing 6 turnovers including a 91 yard scoop and score by Reed Blankenship that put MTSU up 34-14.
"You know, Cody Smith, the one I returned, he’s the one who got it out. You know, it starts with him, of course I got all the credit returning it back, but it starts somewhere and Cody Smith, he did a great job of that,"said Blankenship.
"I think maybe one time since I’ve been here we had five turnovers, I don’t know if we’ve ever had six and a blocked punt. You know, it was just a heck of a defensive performance," said Stockstill.
The Raiders did not score in the second half but still held on to win 34-28. The win marks the first conference victory this season for the Raiders, and gives them some much needed momentum going into another road test against Liberty next weekend.